Yemen monitor

Yemen monitor
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Reptilia
Order:Squamata
Family:Varanidae
Genus:Varanus
Subgenus:Polydaedalus
Species: V. yemenensis
Binomial name
Varanus yemenensis
Böhme, Joger & Schätti, 1989

The Yemen monitor (Varanus yemenensis) is a species of Varanus that lives in Yemen and the South West of Saudi Arabia. I was dicovered in 1985 in TV documentary.

Description

Yemen monitors are stoutly built and are up to 115 cm long. The nasal, temporal and parietal area is swollen, the oblique and slit-like nostril sits right in front of the eyes. Yemen monitor are dark brown and striped with lines that are more or less pronounced depending on the individual. The tail also has dark lines, is laterally compressed and has a median crest. A characteristic feature of Yemen's Waran is the striking yellow lines over the snout. The lines are black for specimens from the highlands near Ta'izz.

Distribution

The Yemen monitor inhabits mainly the southwest coast of the Arabian Peninsula from Ta'izz and Khobar to the south of Wadi Maraba and the foothills of the southwestern Arabian mountain range. He occurs at altitudes from 300 to 1800 meters and is missing in the coastal lowlands. The animals live mainly in savannah-like areas or lighter forests, of which the soil mostly consists of sand and stones.

Habitat

The Yemen monitor often lives close to shallow water or in dry river beds. It mostly eats insects, especially beetles, snails and other invertebrates. It may take larger prey if possible. During the driest season of the year in the months from January to March its activity may be reduced or even suspended.

Discovery

The species was first described in 1988 by Wolfgang Böhme et al. under the name Varanus yemensis. The discovery was made in an odd manner: Two years before the first description Wolfgang Böhme discovered a species of Varanus not yet described in a TV documentary about nature in Yemen. A few months later, the species could be brought to Europe.

References

    • Wolfgang Böhme: Varanus yemensis. In: Eric Pianka & Dennis King (Eds.): Varanoid lizards of the world, Indiana University Press, 2004, pages 143–146. ISBN 0-253-34366-6
    • reptile-database: Varanus yemenensis
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